The capital of Romania is one of the largest cities in Europe. The country's complex history has many sad, difficult pages. Having survived all the troubles, the people of Romania were able to preserve many architectural masterpieces, erected in different periods of life. Beautiful palaces, parks, interesting museums, temples and other sights of Bucharest are invited to see on their own or together with guides during excursions. We will tell you where to go and what to see first.
Palace of Parliament
The idea of building an unusually large building belongs to Ceausescu and came to him after visiting China and North Korea. The monumental buildings of Asia conquered the ruler of Romania. The 1977 earthquake helped make his dreams come true. Many buildings in the central part were destroyed. They were demolished, and in the most seismically safe area of the city, a complex called the House of the People was erected (residents identified it as the House of the Pharaoh, the House of Ceausescu). The volume of the building is 2% more than the pyramid of Giza.
Its architectural style is closest to the Empire style of Stalin's times. The height of the palace is 84 m or 12 floors (it could accommodate 25 floors). The depth of the underground part is 92 m. There are 1100 rooms in it. 30 of them are located in luxurious halls. On the squares of the building there are 4 restaurants, 3 libraries, two underground parking lots, a concert hall. By its size, the building is considered one of the largest administrative buildings in the world. In the "Massive Buildings" category, Parliament took third place (ahead of the abandoned Teotihuacan Temple and the Florida Space Center).
The exterior of the huge ensemble is complemented by an unusually expensive interior decoration. Everything is here: floor, walls, windows, stained-glass windows, chandeliers. The ceiling, carpets, brocade curtains are made of the rarest materials. The building overpowers with its grandeur, symbolizes the boundless power of a bygone era. It has long become the hallmark of the city. 30% of the premises are used for city events. Tourists are allowed to see them. For their convenience, a glass elevator was built, delivering those who wish to the chic restaurant, to the observation deck.
Address: Strada Izvor, 2-4.
Cotroceni Palace
On the site of the ancient monastery that adorned the Cotroceni hill, the palace of Karol I appeared in 1888, which became a famous example of 19th century architecture. After the overthrow of Ceausescu, the residence of the president was formed in the palace and the expositions of the museum were opened. The luxurious building was erected by the architect Paul Hetero in the architectural style of the German Neo-Renaissance. The building had the status of a palace until 1949. It was occupied by various state institutions (House of Pioneers).
The structure restored after the earthquake is decorated with two snow-white towers with bright tiled roofs, elegant columns with complex stucco elements, beautiful windows, and cozy balconies. The interior decoration is striking in its wealth and beauty. Their appearance has been preserved in its historical form. It is believed that the interior decoration took place under the direction of the queen. Due to its origin (the queen was the niece of Queen Victoria of England), many elements have a European style from different eras.
Here are the Flower Salon, Germanic rooms decorated in the Renaissance style, the Office of the Prince, etc. During the excursions, it is proposed to see the preserved boudoir of the Queen, the East, Norwegian Hall. The museum displays 20,000 exhibits. Among them are works of painting, sculpture, graphics, arts and crafts. A separate exposition presents ancient icons, works by Romanian artists from the 19th century.
Address: Bulevardul Geniului, 1.
Palace Crezulescu
Looking at the beautiful palace, it is easy to imagine that it has stood on this land since ancient times. A princess lives behind its amazingly beautiful walls. The lace elements located at the top of the castle make it almost weightless, flying upwards somewhere. Its architectural style harmoniously combines elements of New Gothic and Baroque. The fabulous building appeared 100 years ago. And it has long been included in the lists of the most beautiful symbols. The main use of the palace was the holding of cultural events by administrative, cultural organizations.
Until the outbreak of World War II, the palace housed a museum of religious art. It now houses the UNESCO-CEPES Center for Higher Education. The palace is closed for tourists. To examine it, listen to the history of creation, the legends living next to it are offered during an external examination. One of them is the story that the underground passage from the palace leads to the Skeet Maguryanu church in the Cishmidzhiu park. And in the mysterious depths there is a whole underground city located near Bucharest.
Address: Strada Știrbei Vodă, 39.
Kurtya-Veche
A rare attraction consists of restored buildings of ancient buildings that were part of the ensemble of the residence of kings of different times. The first rulers of Wallachia lived here in the 14th century. Initially, there was an armed fortification, then a fortress. It was built under the leadership of Prince Vlad Tepes. The people and Bram Stoker gave him the name Dracula.
An important historical event is the signing of the document that became the date of birth of Romania. In 1545, on the territory of the fortress, the first Kurtea Veche church or the Church of St. Anton and the Annunciation appeared. It was used for a long time during the coronation of the next ruler of the country. Today the church is considered the oldest building in the city. The ensemble in the open space includes: sections of the gallery, parts of the defensive walls of the fortress, sections of the old water supply system.
Turkish bath, some architectural elements of decorations, murals. The old or princely court also includes Hanul-lui-Manuk. It was built in 1808 by Manuk Bay. A peace treaty was signed in the building to end the war with Turkey in 1812. Once majestic buildings were decorated with columns, beautiful staircases made of rare marble. Archaeological excavations at the site of the ancient fortress continue and bring new interesting elements.
Address: Franceza, nr. 27-31, sector 3.
Cantacuzino Palace
In the central part of the city, there is a beautiful palace built in 1903 by order of the mayor of Cantacuzino. The best architect of that time worked on his project and created the look of the ensemble from elements of different architectural styles. The exterior of the palace is decorated with beautiful wrought-iron balconies, high arched windows, luxurious entrance gates with two stone lions. Above the entrance is the coat of arms of the family. The facades of the building are decorated with numerous sculptural compositions and carved ornaments. Since 1956, a museum dedicated to the composer George Enescu has been opened in the building.
Equipped with three exhibition halls, salons for concerts and balls. The permanent exhibition contains personal belongings, drawings, sketches, musical instruments of the recognized master. It is also offered to see works of monumental painting by Petrescu, Kostin, Verona. The sculptural decoration was made by Bekkerem, Storka. The palace has preserved ancient carpets, furniture, lamps, stained glass windows, tapestries. Music festivals, meetings, dances are regularly held in beautiful halls. In summer, concerts are often held outdoors, in the magnificent park surrounding the palace. Since 2007, it has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Address: Calea Victoriei, 141, sector 1.
Romanian Athenaeum
The Romanian Concert Hall is considered an outstanding landmark of the country. This is not just a concert venue for musical festivals, but a unique temple of art.A symbol of the traditions of the spiritual beauty of the people, which has become one of the city's business cards. The acoustic capabilities of the Athenaeum are considered the best of any music hall in Europe. The annual International Enescu Festivals brought him worldwide fame.
The "temple of art" appeared in 1888 at the initiative of prominent figures, diplomats, scholars of Romania, who organized the "Romanian Athenaeum" society. In the concert hall in 1919, the leaders of the regions of the country of Bukovina, Transylvania, Bessarabia met with the Kingdom of Romania. It was there that a decision was made to unite. The facade of the building resembles a Greek temple and is decorated with austere columns, a high pediment, openwork windows, and an elegant dome in the Byzantine style.
The internal interior was formed over 10 years after the completion of construction. It turned out to be beautiful and luxurious. There is a conference room on the ground floor of the building. The concert hall has 600 seats in the stalls and 52 in boxes. The walls of the hall are decorated with a huge fresco reflecting the main historical events of the country, starting from the period of Dacia, Trajan.
Address: Strada Benjamin Franklin, 1-3.
Triumphal Arch
A memorial building, built on a busy artery of the city. The street is named after the famous Russian diplomat, Count, General Kiselev. He was a respected figure in the country. Every year on December 1, during the National Day, military parades are held here. According to the ancient traditions of different countries, it was customary to meet the winners at the symbolic gates to the city. Triumphal arches were built from different materials, decorated, and became the landmarks of many cities. One of the ancient customs of Romania was the meeting of the winners under the arches of decorated fir trees.
The first building was erected from wood in 1878 in honor of the country's independence. During its history, the arch was rebuilt several times. The opening of the Arc de Triomphe made of reinforced concrete with sculptural elements took place in 1922. The height of the structure is 27 m, the width of the passage is 10 m. Its height reaches 17 m. Stairs hidden in the walls lead to the top of the arch. The building ends with a pediment, a terrace from which it is proposed to look at the beautiful surroundings. The Arc de Triomphe houses a museum with documents and artifacts confirming the history of its appearance.
National War Museum
The exploits of the warriors of Romania were appreciated and respected in all historical periods of the country. The main events of the battles have been forever preserved in the expositions of the War Museum. The items presented are arranged in chronological order. Its beginning dates back to ancient times and ends with the modern participation of the country's soldiers in peacekeeping operations. Models, drawings, dioramas, computer images are fascinating additions to archaeological artifacts.
The storehouses contain a huge number of exhibits, from which new exhibitions are constantly being formed. The date of birth of the museum is 1923. Fire, earthquake, historical events demanded frequent relocation of exhibits to other places. Modern exhibitions have been housed in the building of the former Cavalry School since 1957. Busts of famous personalities of Romania are installed in front of the entrance. Among them is the figure of Count Dracula or Vlad Tepes.
A large area has been allocated for an exhibition of real military equipment. Airplanes, guns, images of armored vehicles, missiles, naval weapons. All cars were manufactured at factories in the country. A separate exhibition is dedicated to the collection of small arms and hunting weapons, military uniforms, numerous photographs, and medals.
Dimitrie Gusti Village Museum
Relax in the extraordinary silence of the park, among the forgotten world of rural life in Romania, on the shores of Lake Herastrau. You don't need to go somewhere. A unique place is located in the central part of the city. According to the idea of the country's ethnographer Dimitrie Gusti, one of the first ethnographic museums in the world appeared here in 1936. Samples of village buildings were brought here from all regions of Romania. Of these, 76 complexes were formed from 322 buildings of different times.
Among them are the thatched roofs of Transylvanian houses, oak with carved entrance gates from Maramuresh, huts, dugouts. Wooden churches, windmills, watermills, buildings for agricultural machinery, grain storage, animal husbandry. Some buildings have survived from the 18th century. Looking through the window of the former dwelling, it is proposed to see the interior decoration, the hostess conjuring by the stove or rocking the baby in the original crib.
In the barn, almost mooing, almost a real cow, chickens running around. Some houses are allowed to enter, touch real furniture, household items. A separate exposition presents tools of labor, millstones, oil mills, threshers. On the territory of the open-air museum, fairs, exhibitions, national holidays, performances by artists are held. The souvenir shops offer local souvenirs. It is suggested to listen to the role of agriculture in the development of the country during a tour and visit to the local library.
Modern Art Museum
During the period of socialist Romania, the main building of the country, the Palace of Parliament, was supplemented by a glass extension. On four floors, 30,000 pieces of contemporary art are housed. It is built on collections of paintings, sculptures, installations, and modern computer technology offerings. The expositions are presented in the form that modern masters see art. The institution organizes permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Interest and controversy was aroused by an exhibition of paintings glorifying the activities of Ceausescu and his wife. It contains portraits of the family, pictures from different situations of life. In one painting, Ceausescu is friendly with King Stefan. The exhibition is not a tribute to the love of the dictator, but has the character of a historical introduction. All pieces hang upside down and diagonally inclined. The museum began its work in 2004. This is a great playground for young talent.
Many of them started with exhibitions in this building. You can find out about the timing, names of events held from the catalogs of our own publishing house "MNAC Press". Artists' workshops are located on the top floor of the building. In a separate wing there is a lecture hall and a cafe. Their activities diversify the list of main activities.
Monastery Antim
Many churches and temples were destroyed in difficult years for the country. But this monastery has survived, survived the terrible earthquake of 1903 in Veliki Tarnovo and adorns modern Bucharest. A beautiful inscription on the portal of the doorway of the temple confirms its construction in 1715. The current monastery is named after its founder, Antim Ivirianu. For a long time, a well-known school of clergy worked there. In the XX century, the monks were arrested, the monastery was closed.
Thanks to the care of the Romanian Church, the monastery was restored and included in the lists of the city's attractions. The architectural structure is made in the "Brankovianu" style. It appeared in the country in the 18th century and is still used in modern buildings. A distinctive feature of the style is the use of carved ornaments, decorative paintings, arches, columns. Beautiful ornaments and animal figures are fixed on the cornices and balconies. The elements harmoniously create an openwork, light look to the building.
The image of a snail stands out from the intricate pattern above the front door. The first key to the gate (the most beautiful building elements at that time) was made in the shape of a snail. It is a symbol of faith, humility and humility, the emblem of Saint Antim. There is information that Antim made them. A laurel wreath with a star at the top is made over the head of the Saint.
Address: Metropolitan, 29.
Radu Voda Monastery
On the territory of an ancient hill in the center there is an important center of the religious life of Romania, a monument of history, spirituality and art. The Radu Voda Monastery was built on the initiative of Alexander II in 1568. It was originally called the Church of the Holy Trinity. The monastery owned estates, surrounding villages, creating a high prestigious level throughout Wallachia. During the reign of Micah II, the first city library was created within the walls of the church.
There is a legend that the famous Bukur grazed sheep near this place, which gave the name to the city. Previously, a magnificent palace towered here. Now it is proposed to look at its archaeological ruins. The monastery has a difficult life. It was often closed, it was destroyed not only by the forces of the elements. The last restoration was completed in modern times, and monastery life revived in 1998. The bell tower and the walls of the temple have been restored. Interesting paintings made by the icon painter Archimandrite Sophian appeared. They are made to replace the lost and not subject to restoration.
Important archaeological artifacts are of interest. Their appearance is associated with the life of settlements during the Paleolithic. The monastery houses several tombs of famous church figures. One of them belongs to Patriarch Justinian Marina. The Patriarch of Constantinople Dionysius IV is buried here.
Address: Strada Radu Vodă 24A.
National Museum of Romanian History
In 1970, the old building of the Postal Palace (built from 1894 to 1900) housed exhibition halls, rich expositions dedicated to the history and archeology of the country. In terms of the importance of collections, the museum took first place among similar institutions in Romania. The rich collections feature exhibits that reveal a thousand-year history. In separate exhibitions, artifacts are highlighted, confirming the influence of the Roman, Ottoman troops on the territory of the country.
Among them are historical documents, manuscripts, gravestones, monuments. A monument to Troyan with a she-wolf in her arms is erected on the porch of the building, which confirms the presence of the Romans in the role of ancestors of modern residents. Archaeological finds from the Stone Age, orders, medals received in various battles. The 1977 earthquake and historical events in Bucharest caused some damage to the collections, the building. After restoration, restoration, the building received a second life.
Tourists are invited to walk through 41 halls of the former palace, see exhibitions with folk costumes, paintings, sculptures, objects used in everyday life. The Hall of the National Treasury exhibits 3,000 items of gold, the king's jewels, 12 pieces of jewelry created in the 16th century. In 1867, this collection was exhibited in Paris and was the most expensive in the world.
Address: st. Kalya Victoria, 12 (sector 3).
Stavropol Church
The beautiful building of the Stavropol Church occupies a special place in the rich architectural heritage of the city. Since April 2008, it has received the status of a convent. The monastery got its name in honor of the elected Metropolitan of Caria Staropolis. Being located on the busiest street of the old city, the monastery surprises with its solemn, beautiful tranquility. Having appeared in 1724, it has not been destroyed and has survived in its original form.
It is a striking example of the Brankovyan style with a huge number of intricate carved decorations and original architectural elements. The facade of the church, stone columns, a gallery, flower patterns, images of saints from biblical subjects have been preserved. Inside, the abundance of ancient frescoes covering the walls, icons of the 18th century, is striking. Upon entering, the visitor sees a wooden door with a unique work of artisans. Under the dome of the church, the singing of the church choir, known in many countries as an ancient Byzantine tradition, sounded. Another wonder of the beautiful monastery is its courtyard.
Among the kingdom of silence, greenery, there is a group of gravestones with ancient inscriptions. They constitute elements from the exposition of the monastery's lapidarium. It houses a large library with works on church history, art, theology.
Address: Strada Stavropoleos 4.
Romanian National Museum of Art
The site of exhibitions, expositions with objects of foreign and national art was formerly the residence of local kings. The neoclassical building was built in 1812. It offers to look at the historical process of the development of the fine arts. Here you will find ancient icons, works of early painting, modern masterpieces. Separate exhibitions are dedicated to the works of the Romanian artist Nicolae Grigorescu, the impressionists Lucian and Andreescu.
Surrealist Victor Brauner, portraitist Corneliu Baba. Among the numerous sculptural works are the works of Constantin Brancusi, Dimitrie Pachurea. The birth of the collection of foreign masters was due to the personal collection of King I. Now the European Art Gallery houses over 3000 exhibits from the works of masters of Florence, Rome, Naples, and the talents of the Renaissance. Works by El Greco, Alons Cano, Francisco Zurbaran are placed in the art section of Spain.
Separately organized an exhibition of masters of the Golden Age of artists from Holland, as well as a collection of paintings of Russian painting. Among them are the famous paintings of Repin, Aivazovsky, Serov, Malyavin. The work of the German painter and graphic artist Hans von Aachen is presented in the section of German art. During the acquaintance with interesting expositions, it is proposed to see samples of furniture of those times, products from rare porcelain, faience, carpets, embroidery, lace, old table sets.
Address: Calea Victoriei, 49-53.
Museum of Peasant Art of Romania
The history of modern Romania would be incomplete without revealing to it the distinctive, unique features of peasant life. It was reflected in original houses for living, special conditions of agricultural labor of the population, folk holidays, beliefs, and legends. The country's rural culture manifested itself in the peculiarities of clothing, outfits, adornments, and culinary traditions. The inhabitants of the country strive to preserve the heritage of their ancestors, to pass on to future generations the knowledge of customs and mores of ordinary peasant families.
There are several museums in the country that tell about the simple life over the centuries. One of these places, which has an extraordinary power of emotional impact on those present, is the National Museum of the Romanian Peasantry. In an elegant building with large vaulted windows, red-brick walls that look like a palace, you can listen to historical facts and see exhibitions. The building is decorated with floral ornaments, a decorative tower in the style of an old church.
On the territory there are real wooden houses, churches, agricultural buildings, primitive factories (in comparison with real enterprises) for baking bread, making cereals, and cheeses. Furniture, icons, embroidered items, photographs have been preserved inside the houses. The idea of creating a place of living memory of the life of peasants originated in 1906 from Karol I. It took 29 years to create. In 1966, the institution was named the best in Europe.
Address: Soseaua Kiseleff, 3, Sector 1 (permanent exhibition), Strada Monetariei, 3, Sector 1 (Tempe showroom).
CEC National Bank building
Among the beautiful buildings of the historic center, the architectural creation of 1885 stands out. It was built for the headquarters of the country's national bank. The palace has served this purpose for 106 years. Subsequently, the local authorities decided to sell the building to the municipality. It has become difficult here to provide modern banking services to clients. Some of the offices have survived, but they do not serve the population. In the luxurious halls, an event was held on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Princess Margaret in 2009.
The exterior of the building is distinguished by a dome made of glass and metal elements.The entrance to the building is decorated with an arch supported on columns. On one side there is a monument to the first director of the National Bank. The building houses a museum. Among its expositions, it is proposed to see valuable collections of numismatic elements with the oldest coin and paper money of the country, a collection of gold coins. Learn the history of the building, the stages of the appearance of the national currency, the principles of the National Bank.
Museum of the History of the Jewish People
There are residential quarters for Jews in many European cities. Preserved houses, streets, synagogues, museums, telling about the real pages of the history of different countries. This place is located in the premises of the Great Synagogue, erected in 1850. The museum was created at a difficult time during the reign of Ceausescu in 1978 due to the efforts of the last rabbi, Moses Rosen. Expositions, exhibitions tell about the difficult life of the Jewish people on the territory of Romania. About his rich culture, traditions, achievements in culture, medicine. They do not allow them to be plunged into the sad world of oblivion of the past.
The expositions are compiled according to the principle of combining the historical stages of the life of the Jews. They include archaeological finds (especially from the times of the Roman conquests), a version of the book by Rabbi Binyamin (France). They reflect the peculiarities of interethnic relations, the peculiarities of the organization of trade, economic life. A separate exposition reflects the influence of Romanian Jews on the development of education in the country. Shown are documents confirming participation in the First Zionist Congress, held in Basel in 1897.
In the creation of the "Union of Local Jews in 1909", which laid bare the problem of protecting civil rights. The exposition of the Memorial Hall is called a tragic song to Jews who died during the Holocaust of World War II. The valuable elements of the museum are considered to be the collection of Judaic women from art products, household items, manuscripts, tops for Torah scrolls, ritual clothing, etc.
Address: st. Mamulari, no. 3, sector 3.
King Mihai I park
The historic center or the Lipscani quarter is characterized by beautiful streets and many old buildings. Walking among them, you can't get tired, because there is always a cozy seating area next to the chic monuments. Bucharest is considered the green capital of Romania. There are many parks and gardens in it. The largest of them appeared on the site of an impenetrable swamp that surrounded Lake Herastrau. After it was drained in 1935, the National Park was created. Over the years, it was called Karol II Park, Herastreu Park, J.V. Stalin Park. It was demolished in 1956. It received its modern name in honor of the last king of the country in 2017. The park area is conventionally divided into two parts.
One of them houses the Open Air Museum. The expositions tell about peasant life. The other half is used for recreation of the residents of the city. Numerous statues stand along the alleys. Elements of the architectural structures of the park bear the features of the Stalinist period. Previously, a sculpture of Stalin towered among them. There are fountains in the park, many cozy benches for relaxation. There is a parking lot for boats and catamarans on the shore of the lake. They are offered to be taken from the rental service for a relaxing walk along the lake.
Church of St. Nicholas
The Orthodox church was built on the initiative of the Russian ambassador in 1909. The construction of the temple was financed by the Emperor of Russia. The parish of the new church was made up of representatives of the Russian mission living in Romania. In 1934, the building was given to the university, which gave it its second name "Student Church". The re-consecration of the church took place in 1967. The graceful temple was built in the pseudo-Russian style.
A square foundation was used. It is decorated with 7 domes reminiscent of the onions of Russian churches. They were originally plated with gold. During the 1977 earthquake, the bell tower of the church was badly damaged. The interior space is decorated with a carved iconostasis with gold plating. It was made in the image of the Church of the Twelve Apostles in the Moscow Kremlin. The painting was made by V.M. Vasnetsov. The walls and ceiling were decorated under the guidance of the artist Vasiliev. The Byzantine style and elements of murals from Russian monasteries were taken as a basis. Now the church belongs to the country's patriarchy and is known as a university temple.
Address: Str. Ghica Ion 9 sector 3.
George Enescu Museum
One of the most beautiful buildings (Cantacuzino Palace) hosts exhibitions dedicated to the famous composer, musician of Romania. An amazingly harmonious combination of creations of two types of art that glorified the country - architecture and music. The luxurious interiors of a private house seem to be filled with the composer's eternal music. Personal belongings, documents of a person, whose name will remain forever in the memory of people, cause surprise and respect. As a small child at the age of 5, he began to write extraordinary pieces of music.
The path of training, becoming as a composer, performer, teacher was not easy. But always in the created masterpieces were preserved elements of distant childhood from Romanian folklore (for example, the famous “Romanian Rhapsodies, created in 1902). The character of Enescu's music was greatly influenced by the European romanticism of Brahms, Wagner, Schumann, and the operatic genre of Strauss. As a performer, Enescu performed with many famous personalities. He repeatedly came to Moscow, acted as a conductor in concert halls in Europe and the USA. The composer was one of the cultural figures with a specific civic position.
He helped the wounded, performed with charity concerts. To preserve the memory of the outstanding personality of the country, the International Enescu Society was created. The result of his activity is the release of collections with the legacy of the composer, scientific research of his work.
House of the Free Press
The legacy of centuries, political, cultural heritage is scattered across the countries of the planet. Each ruler left his mark in the form of majestic palaces, unique health centers, gardens, parks. Many of them have survived, restored and amaze with their beauty and direction of use. Architectural masterpieces of the Stalinist period cause an ambiguous opinion about their merits. In some countries, they were destroyed. Monumental buildings are part of history, and their value will increase from century to century. The House of Free Press was built at the dawn of the Stalin era in 1956.
7 high-rise buildings in Moscow became an architectural analogue during its creation. The height of the building was 92 m, plus 12 m of the antenna. In 1960, a monument to Lenin was erected on the square in front of the tallest building in the country until 20007. Now he is gone. Initially, the premises of the giant were residential apartments. A large number of architects of the Soviet Union lived in them. The editorial office of the Skynteya or Iskra newspaper was also located here. During this period, the pulp was called the Polygraphic Plant or "House" Skyntei "them. I.V. Stalin ".
Almost all printing devices, halls of periodicals of the city were located on the territory of the house. Now part of the premises is used as offices for newspapers and magazines. In the southern part there is the Stock Exchange, the popular daily publishing houses Ziua and the National Journal. There is also a press archive and a photographic agency.
Bucharest State Circus
Together with the victory of the democratic forces in the country, an active restoration of cultural traditions, the development of art, architecture, and education began. There were schools, scientific organizations created to implement programs for the improvement of cities in the country. Improving the technological base of numerous industries has made it possible to apply new elements in the construction of buildings. Gradually, frame metal elements began to be used more and more in the construction of original buildings. They were created by the ideas of local architects. The building of the new circus became such a creation.
In 1961 it was the largest circus in Europe. Here and now there are unique performances of the "Globus" circus show. The building has a round shape, unusual for that time, with an undulating roof. It is equipped with comfortable enclosures for keeping animals, a hall for 3500 seats. The original element is the lighting design of the roof. Powerful spotlights direct the beam to the central part of the dome. The illumination of the hemispherical arches enhances the unusual effect. After reconstruction, modern compact LED sources are used to create it. Since 2010, the building has been declared a historical monument of the country.
Unification Boulevard
The central boulevard of the city, about 3 km long, resembles the Champs Elysees of Paris. Boulevard Unirii connects the Palace of Parliament and Alba Iulia Square. It appeared in the 80s of the XX century as part of the work on the creation of the Civic Center to house the main governing bodies of the communist movement and the residence of its leaders and officials. Earlier in this place there were quiet streets, synagogues, churches, beautiful buildings of the 19th century, ordinary residential buildings. Disappeared areas of the square of the same name, Prospect 13 September, Boulevard Svoboda, passing in front of the building of the House of the People.
The architectural composition of the Civic Center resembled a similar ensemble of the North Korean capital Pyongyang, which Ceausescu loved. In connection with the collapse of the dictator and his execution, not all plans came true. Some of the buildings of the boulevard, the surrounding parks have become the property of the city. Tourists are invited to walk next to the numerous fountains along the main pedestrian, excursion street of the city.
Bucharest Botanical Garden
The first location of the botanical garden, founded in 1860, was a site next to the Faculty of Medicine of the city university. From 1874 to the present day, it is located on the Cotroceni hill, next to the famous palace in the middle of a beautiful area and has become a masterpiece of gardening art. On an area of 17 hectares, 10,000 varieties of plants are collected, a large greenhouse is operating. There is a garden of ornamental plants at the entrance to the park. It features 500 kinds of beautiful flowers, shrubs, trees. The Mediterranean Visitors Department contains 100 species of the region's flora.
Thickets of blooming orchids, protected endemics, coniferous plantations, an Italian garden with numerous waterfalls and fountains create ideal conditions for walking and relaxing. At the same time, it is proposed to breathe in the aroma of a rose garden, a collection of irises, to see a real oasis of herbs and plants used to improve health. The Museum of the Botanical Garden is located on the territory. The exhibition stands of the beautiful building display documents, devices, artifacts made from plants, herbarium, elements stored in alcohol and formalin.
Address: Sos. Cotroceni, nr 32, sector 6.
